Children are rarely abused
in India, as the Indian socio-cultural system inherently does
not allow for its children to be sexually abused.

Fact:

Statistical data from available
research and reported incidents (from children and adult survivors)
clearly indicates that child sexual abuse is a widespread problem
affecting an extremely large number of children in the country.

Myth:

Child sexual abuse occurs
mostly in poor, illiterate families.

Fact:

Child sexual abuse occurs
in all social and economic classes of society.

Myth:

Sexual abuse generally occurs
in surroundings unfamiliar to the child.

Fact:

Most children are sexually
abused inside their own homes. In a predominant number of cases,
abusers have the trust of children and their families and access
to their homes.

Myth:

Only girls are the victims
of child sexual abuse.

Fact:

Both girls and boys are victims.

Myth:

Children with disability (differently
able children) cannot be sexually abused as the abusers either
find them sexually unattractive, or feel sorry for them.

Fact:

All children are vulnerable
to sexual abuse. Research has proven that differently able children
are in fact more likely to be abused because of their increased
vulnerabilities.

Myth:

Children lie and make up stories
about sexual abuse.

Fact:

Children do not lie or weave
stories about being sexually abused. The pressure to remain
silent to uphold distorted concepts of honor and respect is
immense. Also, children in our society are kept ignorant of
sex and the possibility of abuse. Given these two facts the
child is not lying when he/she relates an incident of sexual
abuse.

Myth:

Often precocious
children provoke sexual abuse by their "seductive"
behavior.

Fact:

Children can never initiate
sexual abuse. Terming a child's behavior "seductive"
is an adult justification, projection and misinterpretation.

Myth:

Children are usually abused
by strangers.

Fact:

The majority of abusers are
known to the child and are often in positions of trust and power
vis-à-vis the child. Example: Family, relatives, neighbours,
teachers etc.

Myth:

People who sexually abuse
are mentally ill or "sick".

Fact:

Abusers are seldom mentally
ill; on the contrary they are "regular" people who
lead "routine" lives

Myth:

Women do not sexually abuse
children.

Fact:

Though most of abusers are
men, a small number of women abuse children sexually.

Myth:

Child sexual abuse is usually
accompanied by physical violence.

Fact:

In most reported cases the
abuser is not physically violent but uses emotional manipulation
to coerce the victim.

Myth:

Somebody in the family usually
knows the child is being sexually abused.

Fact:

Usually nobody is aware that
the child is being sexually abused.

Myth:

A child should be encouraged
to forget about the abuse, as there are no harmful effects of
child sexual abuse.

Fact:

Child sexual abuse usually
has harmful effects and can lead to behavioral, emotional, physical
and interpersonal problems.

Myth:

Reporting of child sexual
abuse can cause more harm than good.

Fact:

If child sexual abuse is not
reported then the same abuser may harm other children or may
target the same child again.

Myth:

Abuse is usually a single isolated
incident.

Fact:

There is very often a pattern
to abuser's behaviour. They usually repeat their behaviour and
with many children as well.

Myth:

Only adolescent children get
abused.

Fact:

Children of any age can be abused. Reported
incidents show that even infants have been sexually abused.